I LONDON. WANDER through each charter'd street Near where the charter'd Thames doth flow, And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe. In every cry of every man, In every infant's cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forged manacles I hear. How the chimney-sweeper's cry Runs in blood down palace-walls. But most through midnight streets I hear How the youthful harlot's curse Blasts the new-born infant's tear And blights with plagues the marriage hearse. K W TO TIRZAH. HATE'ER is born of mortal birth Must be consumed with the earth, To rise from generation free: Then what have I to do with thee? The sexes sprung from shame and pride Blow'd in the morn; in evening died. But mercy changed death into sleep : The sexes rose to work and weep. Thou mother of my mortal part Didst close my tongue in senseless clay The death of Jesus set me free: Then what have I to do with thee? "IT IS RAISED A SPIRITUAL BODY." THE HUMAN ABSTRACT. ITY would be no more PITY If we did not make somebody poor; And mercy no more could be And mutual fear brings peace, He sits down with holy fears, Soon spreads the dismal shade And the caterpillar and fly Feed on the mystery. And it bears the fruit of deceit, Ruddy and sweet to eat; And the Raven his nest has made In its thickest shade. The gods of the earth and sea Sought through Nature to find this tree; But their search was all in vain. There grows one in the human brain. A THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER. LITTLE black thing among the snow, Crying, " 'weep! 'weep!" in notes of woe: Where are thy father and mother, say? —They are both gone up to the church to pray. Because I was happy upon the heath, And smiled among the winter's snow, They clothed me in the clothes of death, And because I am happy, and dance and sing, And are gone to praise God and His Priest and King |